(Credit: Tesla)
Tesla's robotaxi app is now available to download on the App Store, but that doesn't mean you can catch a ride yet.
The purpose of getting the app at this point is to join the waitlist, presumably to help Tesla gauge demand as it plans its next city expansion. It started operating a small fleet of 10-20 Model Ys in Austin, Texas, in June and expanded to the Bay Area in late July on an invite-only basis. (Its self-driving-specific Cybercabs aren't expected to enter production until 2027.)
The app debuted at number one in the Travel section of Apple's App Store. It's the first time iOS users can download it without an invitation, creating a flood of demand. Tesla says an Android version is "coming in the future."
Several eager riders responded to Tesla's X announcement with login complaints. "Doesn’t work. Just says no network connection over and over again," one said. Multiple others received an error message when trying to log in with their Tesla accounts. However, some confirmed they were able to download the app and successfully log in.
Tesla's robotaxi service is still more limited than Waymo's. The latter currently drives paying passengers in five cities—Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Austin—with plans to expand to Miami and Washington, DC next. It's actively testing in several other areas, including New York City, a notoriously difficult technical challenge with traffic and pedestrians.
Tesla, meanwhile, has expanded its robotaxi service area in Austin multiple times since June and has filed paperwork to bring its robotaxis to Phoenix. In San Francisco, it's reportedly still hassling with regulators ahead of a full rollout, Politico reports. It's also hiring test drivers in Florida, Nevada, and New York, TeslaOracle.com reports.
Autonomous driving and robots are key parts of Tesla's future strategy. On Sept. 1, the company published its Master Plan Part IV, a document intended to set the vision for its next phase of growth, which centers on autonomous tech.